Massey vs. Kioti

[jarbill]

I've been looking at a M-F 1533 for a couple of weeks now and I like the tractor. The dealer also sells Kioti tractors, but he kind of pooh-poohed the Kioti tractors in favor of M-F. I've seen several of the other posts about Kioti, and they seem to be well-liked by their owners. I haven't seen too many different problems that have been talked about. Does anybody have any input about cost comparisons, FEL capabilities, parts availability, service, etc? Just anything would be helpful. I just want to get the most tractor for the buck for what I need to do. I like the FEL specs on the Massey 1533, but I don't really know anything about the Kioti's.

Jerry in Texas

 

[JerryG]

Hello Jerry and welcome to TBN.
The Massey will more than likely be a little more expensive. The Massey parts are not a problem. Most can be had in a day two if you are in a hurry. The 1533 is a very well thought out machine and has been very dependable for its owners.
If you will check at the top, I sent you a private message.

 

[swampvol]

I've been looking at a M-F 1533 for a couple of weeks now and I like the tractor. The dealer also sells Kioti tractors, but he kind of pooh-poohed the Kioti tractors in favor of M-F. I've seen several of the other posts about Kioti, and they seem to be well-liked by their owners. I haven't seen too many different problems that have been talked about. Does anybody have any input about cost comparisons, FEL capabilities, parts availability, service, etc? Just anything would be helpful. I just want to get the most tractor for the buck for what I need to do. I like the FEL specs on the Massey 1533, but I don't really know anything about the Kioti's.

Jerry in Texas

The main reason I went with kubota over kioti was dealer support. I have 3 kubota dealers in the area, and only one (new) kioti dealer.
I would be careful if this dealer "poo-poohed the kioti..."
It might be that he's considering dropping them.

Other than that the kioti seems like a solid, well designed tractor.

 

[ToadHill]

I wonder which has a larger margin of profit for him, I'll bet its the Massey.

 

[rtdiggr]

I have a 1433v MF that i am very happy with it.

Shane

 

[chh]

I have a 1433V with a FEL. Has been a great tractor. MF parts are easy to get(not that I ever need many) and dealer support has been great for me. I have a Kioti dealer closer but is not really much cheaper than MF and changes brands he deals in every time the wind changes, so I didn't have much confidence in him being there when I needed something.
Of course I also have a MF 4243 and MF 596 so I might be a little biased.

 

[IXLR8]

I am in the process of buying a Kioti, dealer network is a concern. Older tractors had some issues with the FEL torque tube cracking. The loader has been redesigned and strengthening kits have been provided for the older loader arms. Kioti was not as responsive as the owners would have liked with this issue. I am going with the Kioti for ergonomic issues, they just fit me better. I fit the JD's as well, but that green paint is too expensive for me. My local dealer is not so good, but there are lots of good dealers that will help at a moments notice with parts or advice, several on Sunday's as well!! They are a good solid tractor, have a good warranty. I am fairly good with a wrench if I need to work on the tractor, which is why local dealer is not terribly important to me. If you are not mechanically inclined and need the dealer to do most of the work on the machine... I would go with the better dealer rather than saving a few dollars.

 

[davitk]

I would agree that the Kioti is likely a very good machine but dealer stability is questionable, at least near me. Nearest was 2 hours, his inventory was old, and he kept repeating that the 'Koreans' don't run a company like the rest of the world, namely no factory rep and having to call Kioti in Korea to answer any questions. Sounded like he was disenchanted and on his way out. Again, likely a good machine, with an unbeatable price, but watch the dealer.

 

[MAHINDRA OF OHIO]

We looked to take on Kioti before M/F. I did not like the support from Kioti. They did not have a good long term plan for there dealers. They keep saying we made Kubota in the 70's and some of are tractors use Kubota and John Deere engines.
If you trade/sell a M/F-Agco, John Deere, Kubota and CNH-ford you will do good. If you trade/sell anything else you will not be happy with the out come

 

[BTI]

A John Deere engine...........
Thats a new one.
Sounds more like the old Scorpion/Millenium
They used Kubota and JD engines.
Kioti has never had ANY association with JD.

BTI

 

[rickster]

I was also looking at kioti. The salesman didn't seem to know much about the brand. A couple months later the place closed up!! I went with Kubota and I have 4 dealers in the area

 

[wallace]

We looked to take on Kioti before M/F. I did not like the support from Kioti. They did not have a good long term plan for there dealers. They keep saying we made Kubota in the 70's and some of are tractors use Kubota and John Deere engines.
If you trade/sell a M/F-Agco, John Deere, Kubota and CNH-ford you will do good. If you trade/sell anything else you will not be happy with the out come

You didn't like the support Kioti had to offer....

After I became a Kioti dealer and my business started to grow I had the Massey/Agco rep stop by my dealership well over a dozen times to try to sign me up.. I just didn't care what they had to offer dealers....
That was 1 1/2 years ago and last time I saw the Massey rep he was now working for the Kubota dealer and he said to me " I 'm kind of glad you didn't sign on we would of had a hard time keeping up with your sales, they couldn't supply tractors to you fast enough.

So depending on who you talk to every brand has issues one way or another.

 

[bluechip]

It is not an unheard of practice for a dealer to take on a new line that they feel threatended by, only to "pooh-pooh" it and protect their core business. KIOTI is culling out the weak dealers, requiring bigger commitment from their dealers. As a smaller dealer, we were concerned, but out KIOTI sales have kept up with the increased expectations of KIOTI (so far). Our customers are very happy with their tractors and we have few issues with them so we decided to bite the bullet and grow with KIOTI.

My point is that KIOTI is an up and coming brand. As I recall some of the Kubota dealerships were pretty small operations years ago... If there is another KIOTI dealer within a servicable distance, you might want to make a serious comparison. then decide which is best for your own needs and concerns.

 

[chh]

Not to argue with you Bluechip but I have been very cautious of "up and coming brands" ever since I bought a Belarus back in 86 or 87. Cheap to buy, but the parts were outrageous(if you could get them), they leaked like a seive after a year or so, and had almost no resale value. Since I got rid of that heap I stick to name brands with long established dealers in my area of OK. Resale on comparable Kioti's vs MF, JD, or NH is much less, so if a person gets one they had better plan on keeping it. If Kioti is still selling tractors in the US 10 years from now and has some real dealerships(not guys selling out of their front yards) around here then I might change my view. That's just my take on it.

 

[TBDonnelly]

Not to argue with you Bluechip but I have been very cautious of "up and coming brands" ever since I bought a Belarus back in 86 or 87. Cheap to buy, but the parts were outrageous(if you could get them), they leaked like a seive after a year or so, and had almost no resale value. Since I got rid of that heap I stick to name brands with long established dealers in my area of OK. Resale on comparable Kioti's vs MF, JD, or NH is much less, so if a person gets one they had better plan on keeping it. If Kioti is still selling tractors in the US 10 years from now and has some real dealerships(not guys selling out of their front yards) around here then I might change my view. That's just my take on it.

Even remotely comparing Belarus to Kioti is an extreme far stretch. Dealership presence is certainly regional by nature. I've watched Kioti for about the last six years and they've grown by leaps and bounds. I've become acquainted with several excellent Kioti Dealers and hold them in high regard.

Don

 

[Oleozz]

Our local Kioti dealer (Hoovers) have a store and a shop that is about as nice as any you will find in this area. Clean, well equipped, very nice lineup of tractors and implements.

 

[MAHINDRA OF OHIO]

You didn't like the support Kioti had to offer....

After I became a Kioti dealer and my business started to grow I had the Massey/Agco rep stop by my dealership well over a dozen times to try to sign me up.. I just didn't care what they had to offer dealers....
That was 1 1/2 years ago and last time I saw the Massey rep he was now working for the Kubota dealer and he said to me " I 'm kind of glad you didn't sign on we would of had a hard time keeping up with your sales, they couldn't supply tractors to you fast enough.

So depending on who you talk to every brand has issues one way or another.

That past Agco rep was full of B/S. No wonder he no longer works for Agco!
I'm glad to see your doing well. We are doing well w/ MF Also---James

 

[chh]

Even remotely comparing Belarus to Kioti is an extreme far stretch. Dealership presence is certainly regional by nature. I've watched Kioti for about the last six years and they've grown by leaps and bounds. I've become acquainted with several excellent Kioti Dealers and hold them in high regard.

Don

I'll grant you that Kioti seem better built than the Belarus, but Belarus had a large presence around here. Especially in the 75 or 80 hp with a cab range of machine. Occasionaly you still see some that run and you can spot them around abandoned for one reason or another in someones back pasture. We presently have 1 Kioti dealer, a feed store has them as a sideline, the dealership before that was in a guys front yard. Belarus in tractors, Yugo and Daewoo in cars are all the same kind of deal to me. Blow in going to take over the market and the next thing you know they are gone. I may be overly cautious, but a brand is really going to have to be something great before I dump that much money in a machine. MF, NH, JD, and Case IH all have multiple dealerships in the area, experience, and good resale value. Kubota's are getting stronger around here(I nearly bought an MX125)some Montana's, a couple of Mahandra dealers 70 miles away and all the rest of the small brands are here today and gone tomorrow kind of things.
Right now I have 3 MF's, if Kioti is going strong in 10 years and has the size of machines that I need, who knows, I may get one if I need something.

 

[rvaitor]

I like them both. The Massey that competes with most of the Kiotis are the Iseki re-braded machines - to my thinking they are comparable but in the HP range I was looking it appeared Kioti had some advantages - some features and weight. My closest dealer handles both and not sure if he has a big preference. I know he hasn't been stocking one series(MF), new last year, cause he thinks the pricing is too strong.

Kioti do have an excellent warranty and they have actually made some repairs to mine out of warranty. I've thought about changing over to something else but my Kioti dealer has been very good - he's good for Massey as well.

 

[TBDonnelly]

Right now I have 3 MF's, if Kioti is going strong in 10 years and has the size of machines that I need, who knows, I may get one if I need something.

Over the past 6 years I've watched Kioti rollout several new, well laid out and feature rich models. They've really upped their game. One of the points I like about Kioti is they manufacture every tractor they sell. Kioti been sold in the USA since 1986. I think they're here to stay. The next 10 years will certainly tell the tale.

Don